Bertie shows a father’s pride and fancy verbal skill

ON a bitingly cold January afternoon it was hard to imagine a sunny June 2004 day when Moore Street Plaza becomes a resplendent showcase of downtown Dublin.

Yesterday’s summons to the media didn’t advise that a powerful imagination would come in handy to visualise the €80m project. All we on-site watchers observed were some holes in the ground.

Fresh from a post-Christmas break in the Canaries’ sunshine, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern suffered no such lack of faith in the rejuvenation process as he bestrode his central city constituency with characteristic enthusiasm.

“It is very encouraging to witness real progress in the development of this area as part of the Dublin City Council’s O’Connell Street Integrated Area Plan,” said Mr Ahern.

For those in need of some translation, “real progress” means a 253-bedroom hotel by the Jurys Doyle group and an impressive selection of retail units in various shapes and sizes.

Bertie is always good for the quote - and daughter Cecelia’s mega break as novelist was right down his street.

“She works through the night and that’s what she likes. But it’s a great break for her and needless to say I support her and wish her well.”

To tougher questions, like the prospects for a new national pay deal and the use of US military aircraft at Shannon, Taoiseach Ahern gave no inkling of a man who was trying to adjust from his leisure time in Lanzarote to the chores of office. He displayed typical verbal footwork and was then off about his other business. Today, the warmer climes of Mexico beckon. Somebody has to do it.

Oh yes, those “holes in the ground” in otherwise flat Moore Street Plaza terrain are the remains of Victorian buildings. The developers are uncovering them so they can be mapped for future generations to gaze on and wonder about.

In a corner of the site, sitting on top of a big pile of rubble, a driver was sifting the remains of old buildings.